A student at the University's College at Wise who wrote an alarming short story and was later found to have three concealed weapons in his car has been prohibited from returning to campus, Wise Director of Public Safety Steve McCoy confirmed.
The student, 23-year-old undergraduate Steve Daniel Barber, said his short story, submitted Feb. 28 for a creative writing class, dealt with alcohol and drug use but was not violent by nature.
"It [Barber's piece] starts as a story, but at the end the reader realizes what he is reading is a suicide note," Barber said, adding that the intent was to explore controversial topics such as suicide.
Barber said his story "wasn't a call for concern or that I am suicidal," adding "If you cannot have free thoughts and free speech in a college classroom where you are learning, where can you have it?"
Barber said he feels his case is not analogous or comparable to that of Seung-Hui Cho, who wrote violent stories before going on a shooting spree at Virginia Tech. Barber described Cho's writing as "full of gratuitous violence" and "weird."
Barber declined to release a copy of his work and said he has not provided copies to any other media outlet. He noted, though, that The Roanoke Times received a copy from another source.
According to a recent Roanoke Times article, "The story is written in first person. At one point the narrator describes how news of Seung-Hui Cho's rampage at Virginia Tech causes him to sleep with a gun under his pillow. The professor who the narrator briefly contemplates killing is named 'Mr. Christopher.'"
Barber said he learned his assignment alarmed several members of his class and his professor, Christopher Scalia, when he was approached and questioned by a police officer the morning after submitting the assignment.
Barber said he was asked if he had any weapons and said he admitted to possessing loaded .22 caliber and .44 caliber handguns along with an unloaded 9mm pistol in his vehicle on campus.
Barber said he understands why students were concerned but noted he legally possessed the weapons and has legally used weapons for many years. He added that he is a responsible and experienced user because of his military background.
"I have a 3.9 GPA on the dean's list, lots of friends, a double major," he said. "I am Navy veteran with a good conduct medal."
According to Barber, he is the complete opposite of Cho, who was very secluded and unstable.
Barber emphasized that after his arrest he voluntarily went to various clinics for evaluation.
"I ended up getting a temporary detention order [from Wise]," Barber said. "They sent me to a clinic on [Feb.] 29, and after three days of intense scrutiny, they said 'You're not mentally ill, suicidal, homicidal,' and I was dismissed."
Although a judge ruled Barber was not a threat during a hearing last Monday, Barber was informed he had been expelled from Wise shortly after the hearing, according to Barber.
Wise Vice Chancellor for Administration Gary Juhan declined to elaborate on the details of the case, including the expulsion, but confirmed Barber is not eligible to be on campus property.
"We do not comment on student judicial cases, especially while they are in progress," Juhan said, but added "As of now, the process is not completed, and I expect it to be completed fairly shortly by [today]."
McCoy added that Wise policy prohibits concealed weapons on campus, noting even a permit does not make them acceptable.
Barber, though, disagreed with the legality of such a policy. He argued that the University has been established as a government entity in previous court cases; therefore, he is legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon, based on Virginia preemption laws.
"As for the guns, I didn't break any law," he said. "I am holding the contention that the school broke the law by having a blanket prohibition on firearms on campus."
When asked about the danger of firearms in lieu of recent tragedies, Barber cited a 2002 Appalachian School of Law incident in which, he said, several law students informed of an ongoing shooting successfully used their concealed firearms to hinder shooter Peter Odighizuwa until authorities arrived.
Barber said he met last week with Wise Chancellor David J. Prior and asked for an appeal to his expulsion.
"The chancellor is a man of integrity," Barber said. "I hope they will the do the right thing, not let this culture of fear outweigh reason."
Barber added that if the appeal is not successful, he is considering taking legal action against Wise.
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